Blog on Panama
I fell in love with Panama. So much so that I want to retire there. It is not only beautiful, but it is a wealth of biodiversity. In one country you have rainforests, mangrove wetlands and cloud forests. The people are friendly and welcoming. The food is among some of the best I have eaten in all my travels. Whether you are in the mountains, beach or city, the food is amazing.
The scenery is indescribable. The first visit we made to Panama, we stayed in Panama City. We rented an airbnb with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. In the nicest part of the city, you can rent a luxury apartment with a pool and 3 bedrooms for under a thousand dollars for 4 nights, 5 days. You can spend a lot less depending on location and building amenities.
The city holds a plethora of things to do. Most people go to Panama City to visit the Canal. The first time we were there, we went with a guide. The next time, we went on our own. I can say that the next time we go, I will go through on a boat. There are partial canal transits and full canal transits. The partial boat tour is around 6 hours and the cost is anywhere from $155.00-$185.00. Of course this can change. The full transit tour is about $240.00 and takes approximately 10 hours. The first time we went to the canal, things went seamlessly. The boats went through without a hitch. The second time, not so much. We waited in the heat of the day for hours until a boat finally made it through the canal. It was awful but we had invited our grown kids on the trip and did not want them to miss it. This is one of the problems with planning things. You never know. It was a good thing this was at the end of the day. We went sightseeing beforehand. If we had done this in the beginning of the day, we would have missed out on an entire day of exploring other things.
Monkey Island is a must not be missed excursion. The first time we went, we spent money for a private tour which included Monkey Island and the Panama Canal. The second time we visited, since we were paying for four people, we went with a group. I will admit, I am sorry I did not pay for a private tour. For the extra money, it is worth it. Monkey Island is a lot of fun. You bribe the monkeys to come on board your little boat by giving them fruit which is provided. The best time for this excursion is in the morning while they are hungry. We got a lot of great pictures! While on Gatun lake, you may see crocodiles sunning themselves on the land or swimming in the lake. Stay away!!!
Embera Village was another private tour we went on. The guide took us to the waterfall of the Chagres River before visiting the Embera Village. We then opted to do some kayaking on the river as well. This was an amazing trip! Worth every penny. The hike is beautiful and the swim in the river and literally sitting in the Falls was unbelievable!. Embera Village is a fun experience. The Embera people will make you a fabulous lunch of fish which they catch and cook over a fire pit, and the most amazing fruit you have ever eaten. You will take part in traditional dances, and see the beautiful handicrafts that have been part of their traditions for years. They are beautiful people who are willing to share their harmonious way of life with those lucky enough to indulge in the experience.
We were fortunate to stay in Casco Viejo for a few nights the second time we visited Panama City. Casco Viejo is the “old town”. The streets are cobblestone and the area boasts centuries-old churches, government buildings, shops selling local crafts and excellent restaurants all with a “waterfront” view. The colorful facade of the buildings give the town a beautiful European-style aesthetic. The coffee shops were incredible as were the restaurants. In the evenings we enjoyed “spirited” coffee in lovely bars. The only thing I will say is that areas of Casco Viejo are going through gentrification. The airbnb we stayed in was beautiful and newly renovated however, it was in a questionable part of town. That being said, there is an amazing presence of police and we never felt unsafe.
The Sofitel Legend is a stunning sight in Casco Viejo. We were fortunate to have met a lovely man and his daughter on our first trip to Panama and have kept in touch. He invited us to tea at the Sofitel. It was an unbelievable experience. While we never saw a menu, he ordered a dessert tower that was breathtaking! Almost too good to eat, but we managed to devour every piece. While this was a truly new experience for us, he seemed to know the staff and feel quite at home there!
This same gentleman took us to Playa Coronado. This beach is about 90 minutes from Panama City. Dry season is from December to April if you are looking to beach it. I have to say, we were in Panama in November and again in July. We saw very little rain although it was overcast. The beaches in Coronado, and I am sure throughout Panama are beautiful! Coronado is more of a resort area if you are looking for shopping, golfing and water fun. There are beautiful hiking trails not too far away. This seems to be a favorite for expats and wealthy Panamanians with extraordinary homes.
Boquete is a quiet treasure. We went to Boquete on our second trip to Panama. Boquete is amazing!!! If you like coffee, don’t miss it! Boquete is an 8 hour drive from Panama City! Take a plane!!! We drove there and will never do it again! It is not that the roads are bad, but it takes forever!!! Don’t let the distance scare you! Boquete was worth the trip. The town is beautiful and filled with expats and locals. It has cloud forests, hiking, coffee farms, rafting and a Tuesday community market which should not be missed.
We were amazed by the warmth of the people at the Tuesday Community market and surprised that English was spoken all around us. We bought some nice souvenirs for family members that did not make the trip with us to Panama this time. It was interesting hearing people’s stories about how they ended up in Boquete and how they are enjoying their life and friends.
We had a great experience at a coffee farm, Finca Casanga. We enjoyed learning about the beans and having a hand at grinding them and then roasting our own bag. We also tasted coffee brewed in different ways. Of course we got to try the famous Geisha coffee and even bought a small bag to take home to sample with friends.
Rafting was another excursion not to miss! It was excellent! Our guide was great and had a wonderful sense of humor. We rode the rapids like pros even though our poor guide did most of the work. I would absolutely do this trip again. They even fed us! Everything tasted great after exerting ourselves in the water!
Hiking was an adventure and next time, we will probably grab a guide instead of attempting to go on a hike for the rare Quetzal bird on our own. Unfortunately, they were probably hiding in the trees laughing at us as we peered around unsuccessfully with binoculars. We attempted the Pipeline trail which is a beautiful 3.8 mile hike. It is supposed to take about three hours, however with my huffing and puffing uphill it took me a little longer. It is definitely worth the hike and the butterflies and forest are beautiful. (Something to keep in mind: take money with you on all your hikes! Most hikes are on private land and they will charge you and make you sign a book which is for your protection.)
Food in Boquete is wonderful! I felt as if all I did was eat and walk and eat some more and drink. For a small town, I have to say the food is delicious, fresh and very reasonable as are the hotels and airbnb’s. There are many places we did not have time to get too. Our next visit I will include new areas such as Bocas del Toro.
